There are many events organized these days in support of the cancer survivors and a Chinese Lantern release could be seen at some of them. Every year on June 10th at the Sparta High School there is a Relay for Life event organized. This is the fifth time such an event is hosted there. This time there was an interesting activity incorporated in the schedule. There usually is a luminary ceremony at the event, but this time a lanterns sendoff was to take place as well. People who wanted to send off lanterns could purchase them at the event. They wrote the names of loved ones who have lost the battle with cancer. The custom of sending off lanterns for lost loved one is beautiful and very symbolic. Another new event at this year’s Relay is the recognition of the caregivers. After all taking care of someone who has cancer is a very serious and hard thing to do. The recognition was in the form of their own lap around the running track. The survivors lap was at 7pm and it included a big chain. Each link of that giant chain represented one year of surviving cancer. There were 41 teams signed up for this lap this year, which is more than ever before. The goal of the event was to raise around $120 000.

If you have a friend or a loved one who you have lost or has survived cancer, light up a Chinese Lantern for them and say a prayer for them.